WhatsApp DOWN - Server Status issues as chat app NOT working for hundreds of users in UK

WhatsApp DOWN - Server Status issues as chat app NOT working for hundreds of users in UK

UPDATE ONE: WhatsApp is back up and running after a major outage earlier today.

A WhatsApp spokesperson has told us that the issues affecting the service today has all been sorted.

And it shows on DownDetector - the site saw reports of WhatsApp being down fall from a peak of a few thousand to just a handful now.

ORIGINAL: WhatsApp has been hit with a major outage, with millions of users unable to make use of the messaging service.

The outage, which is impacting users in the UK, Europe, Asia and America started around 4.20 and reports of users being unable to use the app have been steadily rising.

Independent website DownDetector, which tracks social comments around outages is currently tracking the situation, as well as numerous people unhappy with the outage.

Users are complaining of being unable to send or receive text messages, photos or videos.

WhatsApp Status now has 250 million daily users, making it even more popular than all of Snapchat.

And the company recently announced that it had passed one billion daily active users.

The hugely-successful chat app was originally launched in 2009 by ex-Yahoo! employees Brian Acton and Jan Koum.

The service has gone from strength to strength, especially since the Facebook acquisition in 2014.

WhatsApp also confirmed that 55 billion messages and 4.5 billion photos were shared using the service each day.

That's a lot of people who currently can't use the service who are very angry.

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Publishing its latest statistics, WhatsApp announced in a blog post: "Just last year, we shared that one billion people around the world use WhatsApp every month.

"Today, we are excited and proud to share that one billion people around the world use WhatsApp every day to stay in touch with their family and friends.

"Whether it’s sharing personalised photos and videos, connecting through video calling, or keeping friends updated throughout the day with Status, communicating on WhatsApp has never been easier or more personal.

“We are humbled that so many people are using these new features to connect with one another in their own special way.

"As we celebrate this milestone, we’re committed more than ever to bringing you more useful features to enjoy, while delivering the reliability, simplicity, and security you expect with WhatsApp. Thank you for your continued support."

Right now though, we imagine most users will be happy with the service working again so they can send a simple text message.